--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was nothing of either fire or ice…" description: "\"“There was nothing of either fire or ice in it; only a tepid warmth, like lukewarm water that when you first stepped in felt comfortable to the skin, b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/dana-stabenow-22038_first-step_there-was-nothing-of-either-fire-or-ice_1933026.png" --- # There was nothing of either fire or ice in it; only a… ![“There was nothing of either fire or ice in it; only a tepid warmth, like lukewarm water that when you first stepped in felt comfortable to the skin, but if you stayed in too long would slowly sap the life from mind and body, leaving you numb, spent, incapable even of the few strokes necessary to…” quote by Dana Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/dana-stabenow-22038_first-step_there-was-nothing-of-either-fire-or-ice_1933026.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/dana-stabenow-22038_first-step_there-was-nothing-of-either-fire-or-ice_1933026.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/dana-stabenow-22038_first-step_there-was-nothing-of-either-fire-or-ice_1933026.png) > ““There was nothing of either fire or ice in it; only a tepid warmth, like lukewarm water that when you first stepped in felt comfortable to the skin, but if you stayed in too long would slowly sap the life from mind and body, leaving you numb, spent, incapable even of the few strokes necessary to keep your head above water.”” [Dana Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-stabenow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A comfortable but stagnant state feels safe yet drains vitality; prolonged complacency erodes mind and body. **In simple terms:** Comfort can become harmful. Key Takeaway Avoid complacency. Themes comfort stagnation vitality Mood cautionary motivational Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - career - relationships - personal development Key Concepts psychology wellbeing Questions to Reflect On - When does comfort become a trap? - How can you revitalize a stagnant situation? A Different Perspective Comfort may be necessary for recovery; balance is key. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-step/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind and body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-and-body/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [“We're a lukewarm people for all our feast days and hard work. 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We lie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/we-re-a-lukewarm-people-for-all-our-feast-days-and-hard-work-not-much/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/lukewarm-people-love-others-but-do-not-seek-to-love-others-as-much-as/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/lukewarm-people-think-about-life-on-earth-much-more-often-than/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Lukewarm people call 'radical' what Jesus expected of all His followers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/lukewarm-people-call-radical-what-jesus-expected-of-all-his-followers/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Your enthusiasm becomes their enthusiasm; your lukewarm presentation becomes their lukewarm interest in what you're offering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/your-enthusiasm-becomes-their-enthusiasm-your-lukewarm-presentation/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [I would rather a romantic relationship turn into contempt than turn into apathy. The passion in the extremities make it appear as though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/i-would-rather-a-romantic-relationship-turn-into-contempt-than-turn/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character; it becomes lack of power to act with courage proportionate to danger. All this must lead to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/weakness-of-attitude-becomes-weakness-of-character-it-becomes-lack-of/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Mediocre people often have a tinge of religion about them, but it is only a tinge. They take their religion as it comes. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dubay/mediocre-people-often-have-a-tinge-of-religion-about-them-but-it-is/) [Thomas Dubay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dubay/) > [“The rich eat life, the poor eat death; so what is the problem they ask?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/the-rich-eat-life-the-poor-eat-death-so-what-is-the-problem-they-ask/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [The reformer has enemies in all who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-reformer-has-enemies-in-all-who-profit-by-the-old-order-and-only/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [God hates the LUKEWARM GOSPEL OF HALF-TRUTHS that is now spreading over the Globe. This gospel says, 'Just believe in Jesus and you'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilkerson/god-hates-the-lukewarm-gospel-of-half-truths-that-is-now-spreading/) [David Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilkerson/) > [Socialised humanity represses nature and degrades human nature; it takes life and waters it down - probably to control it - diluting existence with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/socialised-humanity-represses-nature-and-degrades-human-nature-it/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [There should be balance in all our actions; to be either extreme or lukewarm is equally bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/there-should-be-balance-in-all-our-actions-to-be-either-extreme-or/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [“I suppose that having lost true love once, I never wanted to replace it with a lukewarm approximation that would only serve to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paola-kaufmann/i-suppose-that-having-lost-true-love-once-i-never-wanted-to-replace/) Paola Kaufmann ## More by Dana Stabenow > [“in the grave / Dana Stabenow.—1st ed.            p. cm.     ISBN 978-0-312-55913-7 (hardcover)     ISBN 978-1-4299-5038-1 (e-book)   1.  Shugak, Kate (Fictitious character)—Fiction.   2.  Women private investigators—Alaska—Fiction.   3.  Murder—Investigation—Fiction.   4.  Alaska—Fiction.  …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-stabenow/in-the-grave-dana-stabenow-1st-ed-p-cm-isbn-978-0-312-55913-7/) [Dana Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-stabenow/) > [“How come you're always so mean? --Howie Katelnikof”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-stabenow/how-come-you-re-always-so-mean-howie-katelnikof/) [Dana Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-stabenow/) > [At the moment developing a nice little inoffensive cancer somewhere on dry land seemed infinitely preferable to what she was grimly convinced was soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-stabenow/at-the-moment-developing-a-nice-little-inoffensive-cancer-somewhere/) [Dana Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-stabenow/) > [Where were they from originally? The Seabolts?" "I don't know, Idaho, Oklahoma, Iowa. One of those red-neck states with vowels on both ends." "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-stabenow/where-were-they-from-originally-the-seabolts-i-don-t-know-idaho/) [Dana Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-stabenow/) > [“Three-hour layover in Seattle. 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"Aren't you supposed to come over all manly man and forbid the little lady from taking such risks with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-stabenow/she-raised-her-head-again-aren-t-you-supposed-to-come-over-all-manly/) [Dana Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-stabenow/) > [To be a writer is to embrace rejection as a way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-stabenow/to-be-a-writer-is-to-embrace-rejection-as-a-way-of-life/) [Dana Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-stabenow/) > [We need more bodies, 'cause it's not looking enough like the last scene in Hamlet already. --Chopper Jim Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-stabenow/we-need-more-bodies-cause-it-s-not-looking-enough-like-the-last-scene/) [Dana Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-stabenow/) > [“The postmistress was a large, zaftig woman with long, grayish blond hair and a floating, floral style of dress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-stabenow/the-postmistress-was-a-large-zaftig-woman-with-long-grayish-blond/) [Dana Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-stabenow/) > [“ALSO BY DANA STABENOW”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-stabenow/also-by-dana-stabenow/) [Dana Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-stabenow/) [Explore all 28 Dana Stabenow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-stabenow/) ## More First step quotes > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [“I remember wondering, within a year or two of taking my first steps, why only men sat to drink tea and converse, and why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/i-remember-wondering-within-a-year-or-two-of-taking-my-first-steps/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [At least before my hip replacement, I had a quick first step. I could get by you off the dribble. My business game is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/at-least-before-my-hip-replacement-i-had-a-quick-first-step-i-could/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Larry Kramer wisely realized so early on that to change the world, people have to know you. If they know you and see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/larry-kramer-wisely-realized-so-early-on-that-to-change-the-world/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [“How, then, do you make failure into something people can face without fear? Part of the answer is simple: If we as leaders can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/how-then-do-you-make-failure-into-something-people-can-face-without/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“A skillful literary artist has constructed a tale. If wise, he has not fashioned his thoughts to accommodate his incidents; but having conceived, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/a-skillful-literary-artist-has-constructed-a-tale-if-wise-he-has-not/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [The cultural integration of psychedelics won't happen overnight, and the question of young people is perhaps the most difficult involved. The first step is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-doblin/the-cultural-integration-of-psychedelics-won-t-happen-overnight-and/) [Rick Doblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-doblin/) > [“Women create an idealized, hopeful vision for the future to inspire other women. Fiction and fantasy are the crucial first steps to changing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-rodale/women-create-an-idealized-hopeful-vision-for-the-future-to-inspire/) [Maya Rodale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-rodale/) > [“What liberty we find when we trade self-esteem for God-esteem, relying on what God’s Word says about us rather than looking solely to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-gallier/what-liberty-we-find-when-we-trade-self-esteem-for-god-esteem-relying/) [Laura Gallier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-gallier/) > [How do you turn the invisible into the visible? The first step is to define your dream precisely; the only limit to what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/how-do-you-turn-the-invisible-into-the-visible-the-first-step-is-to/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Russia may soon get another chance to move closer to the West, to make a step - I do believe the first step toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-voinovich/russia-may-soon-get-another-chance-to-move-closer-to-the-west-to-make/) [Vladimir Voinovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-voinovich/) > [The first step toward maintaining autonomy in any programmed environment is to be aware that there's programming going on. It's as simple as understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/the-first-step-toward-maintaining-autonomy-in-any-programmed/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [I can turn an idea into a business before you know it's going to be important. My first step will blow by you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/i-can-turn-an-idea-into-a-business-before-you-know-it-s-going-to-be/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [“So, how do you make value flow? The first step, once value is defined and the entire value stream is identified, is to focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-womack/so-how-do-you-make-value-flow-the-first-step-once-value-is-defined/) [James P. Womack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-womack/) > [“The first step in awareness is to be watchful of your body. Slowly,slowly one becomes alert about each gesture,each movement. And as you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-first-step-in-awareness-is-to-be-watchful-of-your-body-slowly/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) [Browse all 1,815 First step quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-step/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There was nothing of either fire or ice in it; only a tepid warmth, like lukewarm water that when you first stepped in felt comfortable to the skin, but if you stayed in too long would slowly sap the life from mind and body, leaving you numb, spent, incapable even of the few strokes necessary to keep your head above water.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dana Stabenow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-stabenow/there-was-nothing-of-either-fire-or-ice-in-it-only-a-tepid-warmth/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "First step" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-stabenow/there-was-nothing-of-either-fire-or-ice-in-it-only-a-tepid-warmth/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/dana-stabenow-22038_first-step_there-was-nothing-of-either-fire-or-ice_1933026.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/dana-stabenow-22038_first-step_there-was-nothing-of-either-fire-or-ice_1933026.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/dana-stabenow-22038_first-step_there-was-nothing-of-either-fire-or-ice_1933026.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There was nothing of either fire or ice in it; only a tepid warmth, like lukewarm water that when you first…” — Dana Stabenow", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dana Stabenow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-stabenow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“There was nothing of either fire...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-stabenow/there-was-nothing-of-either-fire-or-ice-in-it-only-a-tepid-warmth/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-stabenow/there-was-nothing-of-either-fire-or-ice-in-it-only-a-tepid-warmth/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```